Get that clear, smooth, glowing skin at SkinTrends

Most people have a phase of their life when their skin doesn't look its best, Everyone wants a radiant,  clear, smooth, and glowing skin. Now that everyone is conscious of how they look, they will find all means just to get a good dermatologist that will help them get clear skin at a fraction of a cost.   Exercise,  good nutrition, and proper hygiene is the key and an experienced dermatologist to keep the pimple and blackheads at bay.


Acne is so ubiquitous it is considered a “necessary evil” by many, worse still many even regard it simply as a “part of growing up”.  For most people, acne comes and eventually goes, there is thus seemingly no need to treat it.  The reality though is that acne when treated improperly or worse, simply allowed to “run its course”, does permanent, long term damage to skin that will be extremely difficult and expensive to repair. To ensure that acne does not cause expensive long term damage, it should be treated, and treated properly, not just at any clinic, but at an acne authority, like Skin Trends.

The key to minimizing the damaging effects of acne is to treat it early, right at its onset. Conventional wisdom and the prevalent practice of acne sufferers is to let pimples “ripen” before attempting any sort of intervention; this is a damaging misconception.  If you wait for more than 2 days before having cystic or pustular pimples treated, chances are, they will have already burst beneath the skin surface, and the resulting pus will have damaged the collagen which will have resulted in deep acne scars.

Not all acne scars are deep scars though. On the nose and chin, acne scars are raised lesions called hypertrophic scars or baby keloids.  This is why in those areas where pimples appear and eventually vanish the area of the skin remains raised after a long time even if it isn’t red and painful anymore.

No hopeless cases only unfinished treatments

The great thing about acne is that it is absolutely controllable.  Acne is in fact a disease; it is an umbrella medical term that includes blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules and cysts.   The only reason many seem unresponsive to acne treatments is that they don’t comply with their dermatologist prescribed regimens.  Acne is a slow responding disease that requires weeks or even months of religious treatment.  Those seeming “hopeless cases” are just people who began treatment but who didn’t see it through for one reason or another.  

No substitute for expertise

Dr. Joy Gonzales-Mongcal

The right age to treat acne varies from person to person; some individuals suffer from acne even in their pre-teens.  Dr. Joy Gonzales-Mongcal, owner and head dermatologist of Skin Trends, one of the country’s premiere acne treatment clinics says that the ideal time to treat acne is when the first blackhead or whitehead appears.

Because of the nature of acne, there is no automated treatment modality, and as yet no machine can take the place of an expertly done manual pricking for blackheads or whiteheads.  At Skin Trends Dr. Mongcal personally trains her staff.  After rigorous training, applicants have to pass 3 sets of tests: oral, written and practical. After they have passed this battery of tests, the last hurdle is actual pricking with Dr. Mongcal as the patient.  Dr. Mongcal has acne prone skin that requires occasional pricking. She uses her “flaw” to her advantage and is her own “guinea pig”.  Before a trainee is allowed to handle paying patients, each one needs to prick Dr. Mongcal’s blackheads and whiteheads and when necessary, even her milia.    

Redefining the customer experience

As a result of Dr. Mongcal’s stringent standards, an expertly done pricking at  SkinTrends is significantly less painful than at an ordinary clinic.   Pricking at the whitehead or blackhead stage also prevents acne scars.  If even the reduced pain of a SkinTrends treatment is too much for a patient, SkinTrends offers a treatment with topical anesthesia option for a premium.

SkinTrends recognizes that it is bad patient experiences that result in aborted acne treatments, that’s why SkinTrends devotes thought and resources into improving the patient experience in every way possible.  Apart from being the only dermatological clinic that invests in long and expert training for all its attendants, unlike other clinics that treat patients in crowded wards, SkinTrends clinics feature roomy private cubicles.

Aside from being highly customer centric, the SkinTrends approach is both thorough and meticulous.  Dr. Mongcal stresses:  “At Skintrends, we treat acne in a holistic manner.  First we have to rule out any gynecological causes of acne in female patients. We send these patients to a Gynecologist for a work up. If there are findings that point to a hormonal cause, these underlying causes are corrected. Patients are also advised of lifestyle changes with regards to their diet and sleeping patterns.”


Ultimately, acne itself is not the real issue, the real problem is the long term scarring it causes, as this will be extremely difficult and costly to repair in the future.  A full cycle of treatment early will mean the long term preservation of young, glowing, beautiful skin.  SkinTrends has clinics in Fairview, Quezon Avenue, Eastwood, Cubao, Festival Mall in Alabang, and two in Sta.  Rosa Laguna.                  

Smart partners up with Summit Media for easy E-book downloads

Two industry leaders recently came together to forge a strategic alliance that will revolutionize the e-Book and e-Magazine landscape in the Philippines.

Philippine mobile leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) announced that it has signed an exclusive partnership with Summit Media (Summit), the country’s leading magazine publisher, to give the former’s subscribers easier and more convenient access to digital books and magazines via their mobile devices.

READING REVOLUTION. Two industry giants have forged a partnership to revolutionize e-Reading in the Philippines: leading publisher Summit Media and mobile leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have joined forces to offer e-Books and e-Magazines via the former’s Buqo app using only the subscribers’ cellphone load.

In photo are (from left) Hand Interactive General Manager Chad Rosario, Summit Media President Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, Smart Innovation and Product Development (IPD) Group Head Mellissa Limcaoco, and Smart IPD Senior Manager Blue de Venecia.

As a result of the tie-up, more than 56 million subscribers of Smart nationwide will gain access to books and magazines in digitized format through the mobile application called Buqo. Smart subscribers will be able to make digital downloads using their prepaid credits or have them charged on top of their postpaid accounts.

“With this groundbreaking partnership, we are giving our subscribers a chance to enjoy unique and relevant digital content on their mobile devices,” said Mellissa B. Limcaoco, Head for Innovations & Product Development Group at Smart. “Now, they can use only their Smart prepaid and postpaid subscriptions as a key to the vast world of digital content available through Buqo.”

“The low credit card penetration in the Philippines has always been a barrier for companies offering virtual goods to Filipino consumers,” said Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, President of Summit Media. “By partnering with Smart, we lower the barrier to entry and give more users access to a wide range of content that can be unlocked using only their cellphone load.”

Smart will soon be announcing special rates and deals for books and magazines that will be exclusively available to its subscribers.

Buqo is the localized version of Ookbee, the number one e-Bookstore app in Thailand, and was co-developed by Summit subsidiary Hand.Interactive, Inc.

Current titles available through the store include Yes! Magazine, Candy Magazine, Esquire Philippines, and a host of other Summit Media magazine titles. Titles from other publishers are also available, including the likes of Gadgets Magazine, PC Shopper, Car Finder, Speed Magazine, and Circuit Magazine, among many others.

The Buqo mobile app with SMART operator billing is currently available for Android devices. Books and magazines downloaded through the app are readable both on smartphones and tablet devices.

“CHANNELING” PEEKS INTO THE FUTURE OF SELF-BROADCASTING

                Every change, every trend, every upgrade has its boon and bane.  In “Channeling,” first time director Drew Thomas precursors on the imminent dangers of one’s wanton desire for fame and fortune via daily self-broadcasts.

                “Channeling” revolutionizes social media with its eyecast tool – a contact camera that one can wear on their eyes where it transmits real time all the information and sent directly to one’s smartphone or tablet.  The movie is a futuristic thriller on people who seek validation by broadcasting their lives to as big an audience as possible.

In the movie, a soldier returns home on bereavement leave to discover that his brother's accidental death...wasn't. With 72 hours to solve the mystery, Jonah assumes his brother's identity, and enters a world of voyeurism and exhibitionism that's as dangerous as it is addictive - a world in which people broadcast their lives in real time to as large an audience as possible. Hungry for ratings and the approval of their followers, these 'Channelers' engage in increasingly risky and self-destructive behavior.

“Channeling” will open in cinemas this July 2 from Crystalsky Multimedia.

Oral Nutritional Supplements Can Reduce Hospital Stay

I worked as an admitting officer before in a tertiary hospital, I know the amount of money you have to shell out for a certain admission, and the rate differs from each room category, so compute all the amount that you are going to pay for such a simple case of fever. Believe me or not, it will cost you an abruptly Php20k for three days minus the Philhealth and the doctor's professional fees. At the recent event that I have attended,  malnourished patients tend to have more complications, readmissions and longer length of stay.  ″Impaired nutritional status, especially in patients recovering from serious illnesses or surgery, can result in longer hospital stays; an increase in complication rates, higher readmission rates, and associated health care costs, ″ says Dr. Marianna Sioson, president of the Philippine Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 

Mindful of new rules and penalties around readmissions and complications, hospital executives are taking a close look at nutrition as a tool to reduce incidence of hospital admissions and costs.

A new health economics outcomes study, conducted by leading health economists and supported by Abbott, found that oral nutritional supplements provided to patients during hospitalization are associated with significant reductions in length of stay and hospitalization cost. Additionally, the 30-day readmission risk was significantly reduced for patients with at least one known subsequent readmission.

Dr. Marianna Sioson

Published in the American Journal of Managed Care, (Feb 2013) the study provides insights into the economic benefits of prescribing oral nutritional supplements to adult patients in the hospital setting.

The retrospective analysis utilized information from more than one million adult inpatient cases found in the 2000-2010 Premier Research Database maintained by the Premier healthcare alliance —representing a total of 44 million hospital episodes from across the United States or approximately 20 percent of all inpatient admissions in the U.S.

Benefits associated with patients provided oral nutrition supplements
during hospitalization included 21% or 2.3 days reduction in length of stay and 21.6% or $4,734, reduction in patient hospitalization cost.

Additionally, there was a 6.7% reduction in the probability of a 30-day readmission in patients who had at least one known subsequent readmission and were provided oral nutrition supplements during the previous hospitalization.

“Research shows that using oral nutritional supplements can help reduce the length of stay and associated hospital costs. This is, indeed, good news for 4 out of 10 hospitalized Filipino patients who are nutritionally at risk since most of them shoulder their hospital expenses out of their own pockets,” according to Dr. Marianna Sioson, president of the Philippine Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.


″Impaired nutritional status, especially in patients recovering from serious illnesses or surgery, can result in longer hospital stays; an increase in complication rates, higher readmission rates, and associated health care costs, ″ says Dr. Marianna Sioson.

In the study, investigators were able to determine differences in length of stay and costs by comparing hospital stays where oral nutritional supplements were prescribed to stays of similar conditions where oral nutritional supplements weren’t prescribed.

Dr. Rodolfo Dimaano Jr., Medical Director, Abbott 

″In an increasingly cost-pressured environment, health economics assessments can more comprehensively determine a therapy’s true value. Our results point to the tangible benefits of inpatient oral nutritional supplements on health outcomes and cost of care, factors that impact a hospital’s bottom line,” said study co-author, Darius Lakdawalla PhD, Quintiles Chair in Pharmaceutical Development and Regulatory Innovation, USC School of Pharmacy, and Sol Price School of Public Policy, and Director of Research, Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, University of Southern California

″Because oral nutrition supplements are formulated to provide advanced nutrition and calories for compromised patients and are relatively inexpensive to provide, the sizeable savings they generate make supplementation a cost-effective therapy,″ said study co-author, Tomas Philipson PhD, Daniel Levin Chair of Public Policy at the University of Chicago.

About the Study
The ″Impact of Oral Nutritional Supplementation on Hospital Outcomes" study is a retrospective data analysis on the effect of oral nutritional supplements on hospital economic outcomes. The study compared hospital stays where oral nutritional supplements were provided with similar hospital stays that did not provide oral nutritional supplements. The difference between length of hospital stay and cost of treatment (including supplies, labor, depreciation of equipment, etc.) were measured.
The probability of 30-day hospital readmission also was calculated.


About Abbott Nutrition

Abbott is a global healthcare company devoted to improving life through the development of products and technologies that span the breadth of healthcare. With a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals, and branded generic pharmaceuticals, Abbott serves people in more than 150 countries and employs approximately 69,000 people.

For more than 85 years, Abbott Nutrition has been developing and marketing science-based nutritional products to support the growth, health and wellness of people of all ages. Internationally recognized brands include the Similac brand of infant formulas; the Gain brand of growing-up milks; the PediaSure brand of complete and balanced nutrition for children; and the Ensure brand of complete and balanced oral nutritional supplements for adults.

The company is a leader in nutritional products clinically shown to address the distinct dietary needs of people with serious health conditions or special nutrient requirements, such as the Glucerna brand of nutrition shakes and bars for people with diabetes.

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FutKal partners with LBC to rehabilitate Yolanda victims

FUTKAL FRENZY.

Tondo kids of the FutKal program enjoying a fun and challenging training camp at the Don Bosco Field

Football has become the most loved and watched sports in our country next to basketball,  in a basketball crazed country such as ours. It sparked the interest of everyone and suddenly the sports that we used to snubbed becomes a staple in every sport minded filipinos. As of this writing, everyone whose a fan has seen or watched any 2014 FIFA games online or on TV,  and as a football spectator myself, I am  rooting for one great team to emerge as winner. Its about time to concentrate on this sport and we are glad that Phil. Azkals has sparked the interest and has been a steady team for us filipinos since then.

Kicking off trauma through FutKal


Countless metrics have identified Football as the most popular sport in the world, but even its global acceptance does not begin to capture the artistry and spirit of the game. Indeed, it is a sport that can unite entire nations, and when internationally competitive tournaments are staged, people from all walks of life are momentarily riveted.


Notwithstanding the glamour and spectacle involved at the highest levels of the game, Football is firmly embedded at the grassroots level. Due in great part to its minimal requirements, even a patch of dry land, bare feet, and a worn out ball can provide hours of fun and enjoyment. It is this profound modesty that inspired the people behind FutKal to use football as a means to rebuild the morale of calamity victims.

FutKal– an abbreviation of “FutbolsaKalye” – is a non-profit organization aimed to promote football through sports programs to open up educational and financial opportunities for its beneficiaries, which are mostly children from urban poor and devastated communities. In short, the organization views football as the perfect vehicle to teach the values of discipline, sportsmanship, and fairplay, and to bring back meaningful play to tragedy-stricken areas.

“FutbolsaKalye doesn’t necessarily mean that you play on the streets,” FutKal Founder Peter Amores clarified. “Kalye or street is a symbol of equality, an avenue where everybody has the freedom to express themselves with the ball, with the game. No restrictions, and just fair play,” he continued.

The organization started out in 2006 and has been touring the country to recruit potential FutKaleros, whom Amores defines as ‘football enthusiasts that manifest a positive attitude and a purpose driven life.’

One of the most noteworthy projects of FutKal is “Kick for Life”, which was implemented in Tondo. The program has helped transform countless Tondo youths into healthy, upstanding, and responsible citizens. FutKal has also branched out to many other locales in Quezon City, Bukidnon, and Cebu, riding the momentum from the success of their efforts in Tondo.

Currently, FutKal is exploring the possibility of using the program to rehabilitate and debrief victims of calamities, especially children, in order to help them recover from the mental trauma they experienced. The organization is currently partnering with the LBC Foundation to implement this program on survivors of the recent Yolanda typhoon in Leyte.



To know more about FutKal and their activities, you may visit their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/FutKal.

Best Actress Eugene Domingo shears you up in Barber's Tales

I am a fan of  Ms. Eugene Domingo since her Kimmy Dora days. She is the only  comedienne that would make me pee in my pants. I had no bladder control. That is how effective she is in comedy. I had an opportunity to meet her in person recently.  I had some question prepared for her but another reporter blew it away.  She gamely answered the questions that was thrown her way though.  She lose some weight and has that look befitting of a season actress. (She bagged the Best Actress Award in Tokyo).  I have watched her career as a comedienne from playing a sidekick role to a lead role.   I just felt lonely after learning that she does not have an entry for this year's MMFF, but glad that I would watch her 4 months in advance, not in a comedy flick but in a drama movie.  She told the media , she gave her 101% commitment, time, passion, tears, physical, mental, spiritual and everything in this film. "I dont mind if Barber's Tales would be my last film", she added.  Barber's Tales garnered an actress award for her at the 26th Tokyo International Film Festival. I  would just like to discover what's the buzz about the movie, to let it shift her from comedy to drama.  Barber's Tales will be showing here in Manila on August 13, 2014.

BARBER’S TALES From the creators of the internationally acclaimed film BWAKAW comes a provocative period drama about female empowerment and breaking gender barriers.

THE STORY
Barber’s Tales revolves around newly widowed Marilou who inherits the town’s only barbershop from her husband — a business that has been passed down by generations of men in her husband’s family. With no other means of support, she musters the courage to run the barbershop. Despite the skills she gained from years of observation and assisting her husband, as a female barber she fails to attract any customers. Nevertheless, things take an unexpected turn when Marilou discovers what she is truly made of -- in the midst of mockery from men, and the support of an unexpected circle of sisters.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT:
 Set at the onset of martial law during the Marcos dictatorship in the 1970s, the conservative setting of Barber’s Tales provides the perfect backdrop against which I explore the social taboos and moral values of the time to tell the story of Marilou, a woman who is caught between old traditions and modern dilemmas. Recently widowed and childless, she supports herself by continuing her husband’s barbershop. But as the first female barber in a male dominated small town, her liberal views and practices are met with opposition. As the entire country is stripped of its basic rights, Marilou must find the courage to stand out and stand up for herself.

As the title suggests, Barber’s Tales is structurally a narrative made up of tales from the barbershop, vignettes about Filipino rural life held together by themes that have personal resonance, including sexuality, identity and self-liberation.

Barber’s Tales is the second in a planned trilogy set in rural Philippines. Each film is a character study about varying kinds of isolation. Bwakaw (2012) tells the story of a grumpy aging gay man who thinks that all there is to look forward to in life is death.. Mga Kuwentong Barbero (Barber’s Tales, 2013) is about a widow imprisoned  by gender expectations in the 1970s. Ama Namin (our Father, now  follows the plight of a boy who enters the seminary to be with the only family he has left: his father, who is a priest.

Prior to production, Barber’s Tales won 4 awards, including Best Project, at the 2013 HongKong Asia-Film Financing Forum, an annual project market for internationalfilmmakers and financiers.

Enjoy Triple O's by White Spot in Manila

Bacon cheddar  (php390) combo

 Triple O's 

I never know about Triple O's until I got an invite to try out their burgers and the famous milkshakes on the store's exclusive launch at SM Megamall. The place is relatively small but I love its laid back friendly interior that adorned in green and grey, I love the color combination, it has a youthful vibe to it which makes me feel at home.  I learned their history through these walls.  I ordered their 3 cheese pasta and dippin chicken and a strawberry milkshake. 

3 cheese pasta with dippin chicken (php275)  combo (php365)

Their 3 cheese pasta is the right kind of spaghetti for me, because I am all for italian taste, the more tomato sauce, the more lycopene you can get,   plus it has cheeses that compliments the pasta overall. This is a complete meal since it has 2 pieces fried chicken to partner with. The chicken is soft, tasty and freshly cooked.

My strawberry milkshake

Their milkshake is the tastiest, creamiest, with the right amount of sweetness.  It is best to partner with your favorite burger or any meal that you will order. This sealed the taste of my pasta and chicken.  Their milkshakes are available in Vanilla and Strawberry flavor.

Bacon Cheddar and Strawberry Milkshake

My seatmate ordered Bacon Cheddar which is big and  meant for sharing.  I got a small quick bite, and the 100% Canadian grilled beef is juicy, with cheddar cheese dripping on the side and  bacon topped the whole burger experience. Any burger lover would fall for their Bacon Cheddar. And I have to taste their bestseller "Monty Mushroom" yet.

Onion Rings

Their onion rings I should say is the best onion rings I have ever tasted. It has a special sauce to partner with. It is crispy, tasty, not soggy,  just cooked to perfection. It is plain delicious and not dripped with oil. I love the bite size, I will be back for these Onion rings, for sure.

White Spot Restaurants has a passion for using the freshest & finest ingredients. And it all began with a hustling visionary named Nat Bailey, who started what is arguably the most enduring, most successful restaurant chain in North America.

You can visit Triple O’s at  the third level of SM Megamall’s Atrium.

 “Triple O” came from the shorthand language of the drive-in service attendants, otherwise known as "carhops". When guests at the drive-in chose from mayonnaise and relish, their order slips were printed with X's and O's. Three O's on the slip meant plenty of everything, and that's exactly what Triple O's by White spot serves on their menu.

Triple O’s Quick Service Restaurants serve the same great taste and quality of White Spot, including 100% fresh Canadian beef, fresh-cut fries, and hand-scooped shakes, in a smaller footprint. Triple O’s can be found in free-standing locations, street-fronts and select BC ferries, Chevron stations, and arenas across British Columbia, in Alberta and even Hong Kong.


For any Filipino who has ever spent some time in Canada, Triple O’s by White Spot
will surely be a familiar name. Indeed, as Canada’s very first drive-in restaurant
(established by their founder Nat Bailey in 1928), its place in history has already been
assured; but it is their legendary Triple O’s
burger that propels the brand into iconic
status.


Triple O’s’ claim to have the “sauciest, juiciest, tastiest, bestest burgers around” may
appear to be hyperbole, but the proof is in the pudding – or in this case, the patty. Triple
O’s elevates the simple concept of the burger with their premium-grade 100% Canadian
beef patties. Numerous gourmands agree that Canadian beef is a few notches superior
to its American counterpart, due to Canada’s strict screening systems on beef
standards and food safety. Likewise, Triple O’s is well known for their meticulous grilling
technique, which optimizes the essence and flavor of the beef.


Triple O’s offers this unstoppable burger combination in a dizzying array of styles and
variations, which can come a la carte or in combo meals of fries and a drink.
Enthusiastic customers can even overload their burgers with extra toppings, from a
grand selection of cheeses, bacon, and grilled mushrooms. Triple O’s also caters to the
popular local preference for fish or chicken burgers, perfectly grilling these patties to a
crunchy, juicy, and flavorful delight.


For those who have a hankering for something other than a fantastic burger, Triple O’s
provides a selection of other mains, such as chicken, pasta, and fish dishes.

“DELIVER US FROM EVIL" EXORCISM FRIGHTENS ERIC BANA

SUBJECT OF “DELIVER US FROM EVIL” FRIGHTENS ERIC BANA

One of filmdom's most engaging actors, Eric Bana (“Star Trek,” “Lone Survivor”) stars in Columbia Pictures' supernatural thriller “Deliver Us from Evil” as real-life New York police officer Ralph Sarchie who joins forces with an unconventional priest schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the frightening and demonic possessions that are terrorizing their city.

Bana was drawn to the role of Ralph Sarchie in because he saw something in director Scott Derrickson’s previous work which transcended the horror genre. “Scott’s movies, like `The Exorcism of Emily Rose' and `Sinister,' are really incredibly written and performed character films that are set in genres. And when I met with him, I felt that I just had to do the film. He has total respect for the genre, knows more about it than anyone I’ve ever met, but understands the importance of character and story.

“I was also attracted to the character of Ralph Sarchie,” continues the actor. “I was very much intrigued by the genre and subject matter that was wrapped around the story, but when I read the script, what jumped out to me the most was a brilliantly written, intense and fascinating character who I thought would be a really great challenge to play, and the kind of character that I like to go to the movies to see.

“I liked the fact that Sarchie was this really tough, experienced street cop in the Bronx, who ends up being exposed to a world that’s so far removed from the practicalities of police work. At the beginning, we have a character whose belief system is founded purely on facts and physical things. Ralph’s journey is what makes it so intriguing. This is the one time in his career where procedure is blocked because of inner demons and his past doings, and he has to deal with that. In this case, Ralph has to deal with something very dark from his past, and deal with it in a very dramatic way in order to move forward as a person.

It’s a very relatable theme for people who are carrying secrets and things they’ve done in the past that they’d like to shake off. I like to believe that we don’t. We pay for it eventually, somehow, some way.”

Bana spent considerable time with the real Ralph Sarchie, but rather than talk about the film, “We would just sit around and chat. It was very helpful for me to meet Ralph prior to production because there was a certain physicality to him that was very important. Ralph would be very important to us throughout production as an adviser regarding the police work, but outside those parameters it was two guys chatting. He’s a really great guy.”

The subject matter of “Deliver Us From Evil” raised questions to be pondered not only by audiences, but also by the cast members. “During pre-production,” says Bana, “I was exposed to some materials and tapes about exorcism which, on the one hand, were beyond fascinating, beyond interesting and beyond scary. They are materials not for public consumption, so I had mixed feelings about seeing some of them…one in particular did have an effect on me, and I found it extremely difficult sleeping and being in a room by myself for a week after seeing it.

“My thoughts are that there is definitely something that exists which, unfortunately, leads to a very large amount of human suffering,”concludes Bana. “However that’s described or diagnosed is actually completely irrelevant. At the center of it is a massive amount of suffering and pain. Ralph Sarchie, in doing what he calls ‘The Work,’ goes and helps people deal with these things. I have no doubts that there will be moments when audiences will be truly scared, but it’s really something truly different, which is always exciting.

 I think that a lot of Sarchie’s journey in the film, whilst sometimes brutal, is fascinating, entertaining and thought-provoking.”

Opening across the Philippines on July 02, “Deliver Us From Evil” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.
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Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge send off

Cebu Pacific Air, the country’s leading carrier, sends off its top five exciting student teams on an adventure of a lifetime on June 24, 2014 at Maxims Hotel, Resortsworld.  The finalists for the Juan for Fun Backpacker are Team Juanabees, Team Juanderlustare, Team Suldado De Dora, Team Tuklas, and Team Watermelon. Their coaches who will guide them all throughout their adventure are Paolo Abrera, Gretchen Ho, Jude Bacalso, Bogart the Explorer and Luke Landrigan. They are all excited to help their respective teams through various challenges and cheer them on through social media.

Juan For Fun Coaches Gretchen Ho, Bogart the Explorer, Paolo Abrera, Luke Landringan and Jude Bacalso

 Now on its third year, the Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge will take adventurous, fun-loving college students to seven destinations in the country and abroad, for nine days, all for free.

From June 24 to July 2, 2014, the teams will explore Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Legazpi, Cebu, Camiguin, Cagayan de Oro and Davao. Their challenge: to have as many fun activities with their MYR800 (PHP EQUIVALENT) and PHP30,000 allowance, and win as many special fun challenges as possible.

Team Juanabees
Cams Abandula, Kirk Coronel, and GianPaglinawan represent Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao

Team Juanderlust4 Liang Borlagdan, Mara Sy, and Julia Negre

Team Suldado de Dora
Phoebe Alba, Cyp Basa, and Gail Dela Rosa 

Team Tuklas
EsmeEscoto, Floyd Patricio, and Gab Saplagioare

Team Watermelon
Paul Garcia, Kae Lao, and JehannaHuyo-a 

The trio with the most number of fun activities out of their given budget, and the highest standing in the Special Fun Challenges, will win the competition and score awesome prizes to go on even more exciting trips. Prizes include 12 round-trip tickets to any Cebu Pacific international or domestic destination of their choice, plus over Php150,000 worth of other exciting prizes such as Canon Powershot SX510HS cameras, Vaude Sapporo Carry-On Trolleys, Vaude Hogan Ultra-Light Tents and a lot more.

Teams can also win additional prizes during the special fun challenges prepared by Cebu Pacific and its campaign partners in each destination.

To help the teams on their quest, Cebu Pacific has tapped five noted personalities known for their love of travel, to play the role of Adventure Coaches. Volleyball star Gretchen Ho, Internet celebrity Bogart the Explorer, sportsman and TV host Paolo Abrera, champion surfer Luke Landrigan and travel writer Jude Bacalso are on board to mentor each team during the course of the challenge. They will stay in touch with their respective teams and cheer them on through social media.

“The Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge is an exciting opportunity for young Filipinos everywhere to discover just how much they can learn from traveling. We want everyone to realize that you can go on an adventure and have a lot of fun, without having to spend a lot of money,” said Cebu Pacific Vice President for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

The Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge 2014 is co-presented by Jack ‘n Jill Magic Crackers, with the support of Vaude, Merrell, Canon and the Department of Tourism, and the endorsement of the Commission on Higher Education.


Top five thrill-seeking teams

Team Juanabees is made up of Cams Abandula (19, UP Diliman), Kirk Coronel (19, University of San Carlos Cebu) and GianPaglinawan (19, UP Mindanao). This unstoppable trio representing schools in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are passionate about meeting new people, discovering new wonders, and enjoying every second of life. Giving them sage advice and travel tips is volleyball star and TV host CoachGretchen Ho.

Liang Borlagdan and Mara Sy (21, Ateneo de Manila University) and Julia Negre (21, UP Diliman) of Team Juanderlustare banking on their individual strengths to win the competition and take home the big prize. Best friends since they were little, this all-girl team will be paired off with dynamic travel writer CoachJude Bacalso.

Phoebe Alba and CypBasa(18, UPVisayas), and Gail Dela Rosa (17, Filamer Christian University) are ready to march to adventure as Team Suldado De Dora. Their journey will surely be a barrel of laughs as they get paired off with funnyman and YouTube sensation CoachBogart the Explorer.

Team Tuklas, composed of EsmeEscoto (21), Floyd Patricio (22), and Gab Saplagio (23) of UP Diliman, share a love not just for science, but for travel and adventure as well. This witty and wacky trio is all set to form their game plan withCoachPaoloAbrera.

Paul Garcia (22), Kae Lao (20), and JehannaHuyo-a (21) of Cebu Doctor’s University and Informatics Cebu make up Team Watermelon from the Queen City of the South. Always raring to try new things and explore their limits, this team believes that having the right mindset and being with the right people are all it takes to have a fun adventure. To help them make waves in the challenge, they will be mentored by CoachLukeLandrigan.

Follow the adventures of these five thrill-seeking teams in the Cebu Pacific Juan for Fun Backpacker Challenge and get awesome budget travel tips by visiting www.juanforfun.com.
Cheer for your favorites and join the conversation on Cebu Pacific’s official Facebook and Twitter (@CebuPacificAir) pages by using the hashtag #JuanForFun.